Index

While strapping the Cooltek K3 Evolution USB 3.0 with gear, we had no major issues. You’ll find all the required screws within a bag you’ll find in the case. Cooltek didn’t decide on a user’s manual but more experienced users will easily find their way around.

Unfortunately, Cooltek didn’t provide a spot for the ninth standoff. The company only provides eight screws, which means that they meant it.

Graphics card limitations are yet another issue we’ve had. Depending on how high the PCI Express slot is, users will be limited by a graphics card’s length. Throwing in the HD 6990 will require your PCI Express to be at most 18cm from the top of your motherboard. Note however that the HD 6990 is the longest card on the market. The picture below shows MSI P35 Diamond motherboard where the PCI Express slot is 18.5cm far from the top edge of the motherboard. Obviously, the HD 6990 didn’t quite fit in its slot because of the HDD bracket. If the PCI Express was only slightly higher, the card would fit.

The GTX 580 on the other hand, felt right at home in the same motherboard. Note that GTX 580s are almost 27cm long.

As far as airflow goes, the right panel will take two fans and the case will easily run an entry level passively cooled graphics.

Mounting a CPU cooler on a set up motherboard is pretty easy thanks to the motherboard tray cutout. The cutout is pretty large (140mm x 127mm), which is compatible with most motherboards.

CPU size must not exceed 155mm. Unfortunately, our passive weapon of choice, the Hyper Z600, is 160mm tall and it touched the side panel.

Since the case is small and the top panel has no holes or space for water cooling radiators, users will have to mount them outside the case. Unless of course they're small enough to fit in the rear panel fan slot.

The optical drive and HDD locking mechanism is the simplest we’ve seen so far but it works. You’ll need to place the drive inside the cage, stick the mechanism into the screw holes and turn the red handle to lock it.

Hard drives and optical drives have two locking mechanisms each and there’s no room for SSDs or 2.5’’ drives. The HDD cage has no rubber anti-vibration pads but you’ll find some underneath the PSU.

Once the K3 Evolution is locked and loaded, it will be pretty cluttered but that can be solved with a little creativity.

The front fan will be just enough if you’re not an owner of a hot graphics card or CPU. Naturally, better safe than sorry and we’d advise you to throw in another fan in the rear. Since it comes stocked with only one fan, the K3 is almost inaudible. You can only hear it a bit when it’s running at max RPM.

The fan regulator will take care of one fan only. We must ad that the fan’s blue glow makes it look really cool in the dark.